Doctors who beat Covid-19 go beyond call of duty

Eight doctors who contracted coronavirus during the course of their work at city hospitals, got themselves treated, and after recovery, donated plasma at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital

Even as Unlock 1.0 came into effect in Gujarat, the number of coronavirus cases have been on the rise. With no sure-shot line of treatment against Covid-19, plasma therapy has emerged as a ray of hope for the patients. But the fear and stigma attached with the disease has made it very difficult to find plasma donors.

But, doctors at the forefront in the battle against Covid-19 who have contracted the infection in the line of duty have come forward to donate their plasma after having recovered.

Going beyond their call of duty, eight doctors have donated their plasma to the blood bank at Civil Hospital in Asarwa.

ICMR had started four centres in Gujarat for plasma therapy – Ahmedabad Civil, SVP, Surat Medical College and Hospital and Sir T General Hospital in Bhavnagar. Each centre was tasked with getting 25 donors. However, lack of awareness and fear had resulted in not many recovered Covid-19 patients coming forward to donate plasma.

Carry on doctors

Eight doctors who donated their plasma were infected while on duty. They underwent treatment, isolated themselves, got cured and when they were asked to donate plasma, they did so, considering it as their duty. Among the donors is Dr Saumil Shah, an anaesthetist connected with Kakadiya hospital in Bapunagar who has been active for the past 17 years in Maninagar, Bapunagar and Paldi.

“On April 18, I had cold, body ache and fever. I took medicine and was feeling better on 19, but I had my doubts. So, I got myself tested for Covid-19 at a private hospital and the report was positive,” Dr Shah said.

The AMC team admitted him to SVP hospital. On April 21, private hospitals were granted permission to admit Covid patients, so he was shifted to HCG the same day. For six days he remained there and finding it a bit expensive then moved to Fern hotel on SG Highway for five days. After his reports tested negative, he returned home. He remained in quarantine at home for 10 days before returning to practice.


Dr Shah wanted to do something in the pandemic when he received a call from Civil. “If as a doctor I donate plasma, people will be motivated to do it, so I came forward and donated,” he said.

Dr Preet Hathi, senior resident doctor of surgery at Civil hospital was under emergency duty for the past three months. “I might have contracted virus during this time. On May 1, having symptoms like fever, cold, I started taking medicines. Suspecting Covid, I isolated myself. The third day my fever shot up, my coughing increased, so I got myself tested and the report was positive,” said Dr Hathi who is a native of Jodhpur in Rajasthan.

He informed the administration and went for quarantine at Fairfield by Marriott hotel at Ashram road. He remained there for seven days before shifting to Civil hostel and isolating himself for a week.

On May 19, he started work in surgery department, but for the past three days he has been working at Covid hospital.

“I am a regular blood donor, but since plasma has shown some good results, I thought I should donate and do my duty as doctor,” he said.

Kolkata native and third year resident doctor in community medicine at B J Medical College, Dhaval Parekh, contracted infection while doing his duty in contact tracing at Civil.

Dr Parekh had fever, cold and cough on May 4. He got himself tested at the Covid hospital. He tested positive and went into quarantine and treatment at Fairfield by Marriott for 10 days.

Thereafter he returned to the hostel and remained there for 5 days. After his reports were ok, he got back to duty. “While discussing with other doctors, I found that plasma was an effective line of treatment. But found that no one was donating. So, I donated after getting a call from Civil.”

Pooja Soni, another third year resident doctor in community medicine at BJ Medical too got herself checked after Dr Parekh tested positive. “I tested positive on May 5. I informed my family and in-laws. Both my families were distressed, but I explained to them that there was nothing to worry,” said Dr Soni who worked at the medical records department in Civil and married six months ago.

“We are doctors. If people don’t donate blood, plasma therapy will be difficult. After receiving a call from Civil on May 26, I donated my plasma on May 28. I think corona gave me a chance to help someone. Help people and God will help you,” said Dr Soni. After her isolation at the Fairfield for 10 days, she returned to her house at Nilkanth Riverview at Shahibaug Dafnala. “Initially, the society members panicked, but after I explained I was under home quarantine, they understood. They were helpful thereafter and I am thankful to them,” she said.

Dr Nidhi Bhatnagar, head, Department of ImmmunoHaemotogy and Blood Transfusion (IHBT), said, “Eight doctors came forward at a time to donate plasma, which includes a private practitioner. During this pandemic, these doctors have gone beyond their call of duty and fulfilled their social responsibility. This is a big inspiration for people.”